Chak-pur

Chak-pur (ལྕགས་ཕུར) are the traditional tools used in Tibetan sandpainting to produce sand mandalas. They are conically shaped metal funnels and often have ridges down the sides. Normally about 12 - 18 inch in length, they taper to a fine point and are made with varying diameter holes at the end in order to disperse the sand in a controlled way. A Tibetan monk will usually tap glide a piece of wood over the ridges in order to slowly allow the sand to emerge through the hole through the vibrations created.